Personal Pronouns a pronoun is a word that takes the place of one or more nouns

Pronouns

Personal Pronouns

A pronoun is a word that takes the place of one or more nouns.

The most frequently used pronouns are called personal pronouns. They refer to people or things.

Subject Pronouns

A subject pronoun is used as the

subject of a sentence.

She is my best friend.

It is my dog.

Does he know the answer?

You and I will meet later.

Object Pronouns

An object pronoun is used as the

direct/indirect object or the object of a preposition.

Give the book to me.

The teacher gave her a reprimand.

I will tell you a story.

Susan read it to them.

Using Pronouns Correctly

In formal writing and speech use a subject pronoun after a linking verb.

The writer of this report was she.

It is I.

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Possessive Pronouns

A possessive pronoun is a pronoun that shows who or what has something. A possessive pronoun may take the place of a possessive noun.

Read the following sentences. Notice the possessive nouns and the possessive pronouns that replace them.

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Possessive Pronouns

Homer’s story is famous.

His story is famous.

This story is Homer’s.

This story is his.

Possessive nouns are in green. Possessive pronouns are in red.

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Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns have two forms. One form is used before a noun. The other form is used alone.

ours
yours
theirs
mine
yours
his, hers, its
Used
alone
our
your
their
my
your
his, her, its
Used before nouns
Plural
Singular
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Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns are not written with apostrophes. The pronoun its, for example, shows possession. The word it’s, on the other hand, is a contraction of it is. Read the following sentences. Notice the meaning of the words in red type.

Its central character is Odysseus. (possessive pronoun)

It’s about the adventures of Odysseus. (contraction of It is)

Indefinite Pronouns

An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that does not refer to a particular person, place, or thing.

Does anyone know the story of Midas?

Most indefinite pronouns are either singular or plural.

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Some Indefinite Pronouns

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Singular	Plural
another everybody no one anybody everyone nothing anyone everything one anything much somebody each neither someone either nobody something	both few many others several

All, any, most, none and some can be singular or plural, depending on the phrase that follows them.

Some Indefinite Pronouns

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When an indefinite pronoun is used as the subject, the verb must agree with it in number.
Everyone discusses the plot. (singular)
Both talk about King Minos. (plural)
All of mythology is about beliefs and ideals. (singular)
All of the myths are about beliefs and ideals. (plural)

Some Indefinite Pronouns

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Possessive pronouns often have indefinite pronouns as their antecedents. In such cases, the pronouns must agree in number. Note that in the first example the intervening prepositional phrase does not affect the agreement.
Each of the characters has his or her motive.
Several have conflict with their rivals.

Reflexive Pronouns

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A reflexive pronoun refers to a noun or another pronoun and indicates that the same person or thing is involved. Reflexive pronouns are formed by adding –self or –selves to certain personal and possessive pronouns
The woman found herself a book of folktales.
Reflexive Pronoun

Reflexive Pronouns

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Singular	Plural
myself yourself himself, herself, itself	ourselves yourselves themselves

Sometimes hisself is mistakenly used for himself and theirselves for themselves. Avoid using hisself and theirselves.

Intensive Pronouns

An intensive pronoun is a pronoun that adds emphasis to a noun or pronoun already named.
George himself bought a copy of American Tall Tales.
He himself paid for the book.